Embedded Honours Models Structures Policy

Academic Senate resolved that the Embedded Honours Models be implemented from 2008.

The AVCC guidelines for fourth year honours programs point out that the primary goal of all Honours Programs should be research training, and all Honours programs should contain a mix of advanced theory, professional training (where appropriate), research training, and a major research project (thesis). Where a program is awarded with Honours the program should contain a mix of the same elements.

For the purposes of this document a “Thesis/Dissertation ” includes any project, dissertation or a comparable project in the visual or performing arts and the creative work resulting from that project, or a report of the outcomes of research undertaken;

Ordinary Degrees

• 240 unit Generalist degree programs may only be awarded as an ordinary degree.
• 240 unit Structured or Fully Integrated degree undergraduate programs may be awarded “with merit” to those students who gain a GPA of 6.0 or over based on all studies undertaken in the program.
• 320 or 400 unit Structured or Fully Integrated degree undergraduate programs may be awarded “with merit” to those students who do not undertake the minimum Research Component listed in the Models below but gain a GPA of at least 6.0 based on all studies undertaken in the program.

1.      Embedded Honours

1.1.     Only to be used for 320 unit Structured Single Degree/Double Degree programs or 320 or 400 unit Fully Integrated Single Degree programs.

1.2.     Structure

1.2.1.       The program is to contain a Research Component of at least 30 units which will include:

1.2.1.1 10 units or more research related courses (or the equivalent in multiple courses) at 3000 or higher level; and

1.2.1.2 one research thesis/dissertation with a unit value of not less than 20 units which will report on one or more individual research projects at 4000/5000 level.

1.2.2.       The Research Component must be included as part of the prescribed or directed courses in the degree program.

1.3.     Eligibility

1.3.1.       All students undertaking the program who have completed the requirements for admission to the relevant Bachelor degree of the University are eligible to be considered for the awarding of the degree with honours.

1.4.     Classes

1.4.1.       Class I

1.4.2.       Class II Division 1

1.4.3.       Class II Division 2

1.5.     Examining the Research Thesis/Dissertation

1.5.1.       Minimum of 2 examiners;

1.5.2.       At least one of the two examiners to be external to the School unless an external moderator is appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor to monitor the quality levels of theses/projects in the discipline. The moderator is to report through the PVC to the Academic Senate as part of the Faculty’s annual report on programs;

1.5.3.       Supervisor not to be an examiner. The supervisor shall provide a report to the program convenor when the thesis/dissertation is being submitted;

1.5.4.       The final mark shall be an average of the two marks given by the examiners;

1.5.5.       If there is a difference of ten percentage points or more in the assessment between the two examiners, a third examiner is to be used (not the supervisor);

1.5.6.       In all cases where three examiners are used, the final mark shall be an average of the two closest marks except where there is disparity between the written report of the examiners and the mark awarded;

1.5.7.       The Faculty is to provide the student and examiners/moderators with the assessment criteria for all components of the award.

1.6.     Grading of the Award

1.6.1.       Class I: both a GPA of 6.0 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 85 or over for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units);

If a student fails to satisfy the criteria for Class I honours, they may be offered:

1.6.2.       Class II Division 1 provided they have either:

1. both a GPA of 6.0 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 75 or over for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units);
2. both a GPA of 5.5 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 85 or over for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units);

If a student fails to satisfy the criteria for Class II Division 1 honours, they may be offered:

1.6.3.       Class II Division 2: provided they have both a GPA of 5.5 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 65 or more for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units).

1.6.4.       programs which use the WAM as a measure for determining honours shall grade on the WAM equivalent to the above grades.

2.0.     Embedded + Honours

2.1.     Only to be used for 320 unit Structured Single Degree/Double Degree programs or 320 or 400 unit Fully Integrated Single Degree programs.

2.2.     Cannot be used in conjunction with the Embedded Honours structure. Students who do not undertake the Research Component may only be awarded the degree at pass or “with merit” levels.

2.3.     Structure

2.3.1.       The program is to contain a Research Component of at least 30 units which will include:

2.3.1.1 10 units or more research related courses (or the equivalent in multiple courses) at 3000 or higher level; and

2.3.1.2 one research thesis/dissertation with a unit value of not less than 20 units which will report on one or more individual research projects at 4000/5000 level.

2.3.2.       The Research Component must be provided as an alternative to pass courses of the same unit value.

2.4.     Eligibility

2.4.1.       Students undertaking the program who have:

2.4.1.1 achieved a GPA of 5.5 or more over the program to the point where the Research Component is integrated;

2.4.1.2 achieved a GPA of 5.5 at either the 3000/4000 or 4000/5000 level of the program to the point where the Research Component is integrated; and

2.4.1.3 have either been invited by or have had a written application approved by the Pro Vice-Chancellor responsible for the program;
are eligible to be considered for the awarding of the degree with honours.

2.5.     Classes

2.5.1.       Class I

2.5.2.       Class II Division 1

2.5.3.       Class II Division 2

2.6.     Examining the Research Thesis/Dissertation

2.6.1.       Minimum of 2 examiners;

2.6.2.       At least one of the two examiners to be external to the School unless an external moderator is appointed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor to monitor the quality levels of theses/projects in the discipline. The moderator is to report through the PVC to the Academic Senate as part of the Faculty’s annual report on programs;

2.6.3.       Supervisor not to be an examiner. The supervisor shall provide a report to the program convenor when the thesis/dissertation is being submitted;

2.6.4.       The final mark shall be an average of the two marks given by the examiners;

2.6.5.       If there is a difference of ten percentage points or more in the assessment between the two examiners, a third examiner is to be used (not the supervisor);

2.6.6.       In all cases where three examiners are used, the final mark shall be an average of the two closest marks except where there is disparity between the written report of the examiners and the mark awarded;

2.6.7.       The Faculty is to provide the student and examiners/moderators with the assessment criteria for all components of the award.

2.7.     Grading of the Award

2.7.1.       Class I: both a GPA of 6.0 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 85 or over for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units);

If a student fails to satisfy the criteria for Class I honours, they may be offered:

2.7.2.       Class II Division 1 provided they have either:

1. both a GPA of 6.0 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 75 or over for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units);
2. both a GPA of 5.5 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 85 or over for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units);

If a student fails to satisfy the criteria for Class II Division 1 honours, they may be offered:

2.7.3.       Class II Division 2: provided they have both a GPA of 5.5 or more in the 3000/4000/5000 level courses undertaken and an average mark of 65 or more for the Research Component (minimum of 30 units).

2.7.4.       programs which use the WAM as a measure for determining honours shall grade on the WAM equivalent to the above grades.